Select committee: Communications and Digital Committee

Conclusion 29

2nd Report - At risk: our creative future Published 17 Jan 2023 Paragraph 116
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Skills shortages present a major challenge to the creative industries. But detailed data on these shortages are limited and fragmented. This makes it difficult to forecast future requirements and develop evidence-based policy interventions that target priority areas. We welcome the launch of the Unit for Future Skills, but there is an urgent need for progress in its work.

From: Communications and Digital Committee, 2nd Report - At risk: our creative future, paragraph 116, 17 January 2023

Government response

The government responded to the whole report on 26 April 2023 (deadline 13 April 2023).

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government thanks the Committee and "notes the findings", agrees that the creative industries are world-leading, disputes the finding that they are not a priority, and says its forthcoming Creative Industries Sector Vision will give "a fuller response".

  • The government will not proceed with its proposal for a broad copyright exception for text and data mining, citing "additional evidence of potential impacts on the creative industries", and has committed to work with users and rights holders, including a code of practice "by the summer".
  • On the Beijing Treaty, ratification "is expected to take place in 2024, subject to gaining the necessary clearances". A further consultation is intended to be published in spring 2023.
  • On R&D tax relief, the government "does not see the need to consult again on the definition of R&D at this time". It cites consultation findings and concern about fraud and error.
  • The government says it "does not formally benchmark" its creative tax reliefs against international comparators. It points to Spring Budget 2023 reforms and an external evaluation of the film and TV reliefs.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error